In the vast arid and semi-arid areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat, the cultivation of herbs, the seeds and fruit of which are used as spices (commonly called seed spices), holds a special position. These are among the handful of crops that can thrive under such agro-climatic conditions, require less cash and have high market value. Unsurprisingly, therefore, Rajasthan and Gujarat have together earned the reputation of being the country's "seed spices bowl" though these crops are grown in other states too.
Rajasthan leads in the production of coriander (dhania), fenugreek (methi) and carom seed (ajwain). Gujarat is a major producer of cumin seed (jeera), dill (suwa) and fennel (saumf). Among the other states, Punjab is known for its output of celery (ajmud) and Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for nigella (kalonji). In the south, Andhra Pradesh is a notable producer of fenugreek and carom seed. The other southern states produce mainly pepper and cardamom that are not counted among the crop-based seed spices. Among the other main seed spices farmed in different states are caraway (shia jeera) and aniseed (vilayati saumf).
India is, indeed, the only country where almost all the commercially-valuable seed spices are cultivated in some part or another. This makes India the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of seed spices. India meets nearly 60 per cent of global demand. More importantly, spices exports have been clocking a steady annual average compound growth rate of more than 15 per cent in value, and over 8.7 per cent in volume over the last five years. Last year, shipments of cumin seeds alone shot up over 75 per cent to an all-time high of Rs 1,093 crore, making jeera one of the leading agricultural exports. External trade in other spices, notably fennel, fenugreek, and celery, also surged around 55 per cent in 2012-13 over 2011-12.
Such remarkable export performance does not mean that all is well in the domestic seed spices sector or that it has scaled the peak. A part of the increase in exports is attributable to a significant drop in supplies from Syria, one of India's main rivals, owing to that country's domestic troubles. But stiff competition is emerging from China, Turkey and Iran. The redeeming feature, however, is that there is tremendous scope for raising the output and improving quality to increase the country's market share in the global spices bazaar. Besides, the international spices market is expanding rapidly, boding well for the Indian producers and exporters of these products. The global demand upswing is party due to the growing popularity of the Indian food, and partly because of the increasing industrial uses of these herbal products in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, neutraceuticals, cosmetics and perfumery.
Balraj Singh, director of the Ajmer-based National Research Centre on Seed Spices (NRCSS), cites some other reasons for the recent spurt in spices exports. These include technology generation by the NRCSS and other research bodies, and promotional efforts of various other agencies concerned, including the Spices Board of India. The NRCSS has developed numerous improved varieties of these crops and better agronomic practices. It is now focusing also on making these crops more resilient to drought, diseases and pests, and enhancing their quality.
One of the major drawbacks of the country's seed spices sector is poor post-harvest management and value-addition. Nearly 80 per cent of the exports are of raw spices. Their value upgradation through better post-harvest technology and processing could well enhance export earnings.
The paucity of good quality seeds, especially of the new high-yielding varieties, is another formidable constraint in increasing the productivity and production of seed spices. Inefficient marketing that denies growers a fair return on their produce, also deters farmers from expanding acreage under these crops. Such issues, therefore, need to be addressed quickly to tap the true potential of the seed spices sector.
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